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Orchid

Post-op Instructions

We know there is a lot of information to take in after you have woken from surgery and it is understandable if you forget some of it. For that reason, we have included some of our common post-op instructions for our skin cancer patients below. If you have had cosmetic surgery and have any questions, please phone 07 3397 9999 and ask to speak to our nurse.

Direct Facial Closure

Following your operation, you can expect:

  1. Oozing and even bleeding. This is normal. When this occurs, you should:

Apply pressure with a cool pack – for 15 to 20 minutes each hour and elevate the area (sit up rather than lie down) You should find that the bleeding will settle with 15-20 minutes of continuous pressure.

  1. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required. Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  2. Bruising is normal. This will worsen over the first two days then begin to settle.

  3. You should keep your dressings dry for the first two days. You can then gently wet the dressing in the shower and pat dry. All dressing should be left intact until reviewed by our nurse.

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

Facial Flaps

Following your operation, you can expect:

  1. Oozing and even bleeding. This is normal. When this occurs, you should:

Apply pressure with a cool pack – for 15 to 20 minutes each hour and elevate the area (sit up rather than lie down) You should find that the bleeding will settle with 15-20 minutes of continuous pressure.

  1. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required. Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  2. Bruising is normal. This will worsen over the first two days then begin to settle.

  3. You should keep your wound dry for the first two days. The wound can then be gently washed in the shower and pat dry. Apply ointment/paraffin three times per day.

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

Facial Grafts

Following your operation, you can expect:

  1. Oozing and even bleeding. This is normal. When this occurs, you should: APPLY PRESSURE WITH A COOL PACK (for 15 to 20 minutes each hour) and KEEP THE AREA ELEVATED (sit up). You should find that the bleeding will settle with 15-20 minutes of continuous pressure. Applying pressure over the graft for 20 minutes per hour of the first day (at least 6-10 hours) postoperatively will decrease the chance of a collection of blood under the graft and improve the chances of good graft healing.

  2. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required. Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  3. Bruising is normal. This will worsen over the first two days then begin to settle.

  4. You should keep your wounds clean and dry. Keeping your wounds clean and dry will help prevent infection.

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

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Limb Flaps

Following your operation, you can expect:

  1. Oozing and even bleeding. This is normal. When this occurs, you should: Apply pressure with a cool pack – for 15 to 20 minutes each hour and elevate the area (lie down with leg elevated or arm or pillow). You should find that the bleeding will settle with 15-20 minutes of continuous pressure.

  2. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required. Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  3. Bruising is normal. This will worsen over the first two days then begin to settle.

  4. You should keep your wound dry for the first two days. The wound can then be gently washed in the shower and pat dry. Apply ointment/paraffin three times per day

  5. It is very important to avoid any regular exercise. This can irritate the wound, increasing the risk of infection and wound breakdown. You should avoid stretching the wound or surrounding skin.

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

Lower Limb Grafts

Following your operation, you should expect:

  1. You MUST keep the grafted area elevated as MUCH as possible—this is essential for a good graft take. In general, only put the leg down to go to the toilet.

  2. APPLY PRESSURE WITH A COOL PACK (for 15 to 20 minutes each hour) and

  3. KEEP THE AREA ELEVATED (sit up or lie down with your leg elevated)

  4. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required. Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  5. You should keep your wounds clean and dry. Keeping your wounds clean and dry will help prevent infection.

  6. The dressings to both the graft site and donor site are to be left intact till review

  7. Some swelling of the leg is expected – keep elevated to help with this

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

Trunk & Limb Direct Closures

Following your operation, you can expect:

  1. Oozing and even bleeding. This is normal. When this occurs, you should:

  2. Apply pressure with a cool pack – for 15 to 20 minutes each hour and elevate the area (sit up or lie down with your leg elevated) You should find that the bleeding will settle with 15-20 minutes of continuous pressure.

  3. Some pain and discomfort is expected. Take Paracetamol as required.

Applying a COOL PACK and PRESSURE helps treat the discomfort.

  1. Bruising is normal. This will worsen over the first two days then begin to settle.

  2. You should keep your dressings dry for the first two days. You can then gently wet the dressing in the shower and pat dry. All dressing should be left intact until reviewed by our nurse.

Click here to open the full instruction PDF

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